14 January, 2008

DARKO TRIFUNOVIC: FEAR, PREJUDICE, & SREBRENICA GENOCIDE DENIAL

The following is an extended list of signatures by fellow Serbs, Croats, Montenegrins, and Bosniaks urging Euro Police Congress not to give any credence to Mr Darko Trifunovic's latest claims circulating in radical Serbian media outlets and propagandist websites (e.g. Serbianna). We thank Bosnian newspapers for mentioning our Blog and bringing awareness against Srebrenica Genocide denial, which is the most dangerous obstacle for Bosniak/Serb relations and lasting peace (special thank you goes to Dnevni Avaz). Srebrenica Genocide Blog is a pro-victim blog, and will remain to be s0. As you can notice from our writings, we are not interested in being "even handed" with convicted criminals and genocide deniers; we condemn them and will continue to do so.

You are looking at a photo ofDarko Trifunovic, Srebrenica genocide denier, who was also involved in "identity fraud" and document forgery during his time in B&H Foreign Ministry (and he got fired). He is possibly forging documents to defend Serbian war criminals standing trial at the Hague by providing his "expert" testimonies. In 2001, he stated for B92 that he had evidence of Radovan Karadzic's military orders which could ultimately clear Karadzic of genocide charges. Considering Trifunovic's document forgery background, we would not be surprised had he also worked on forging Radovan Karadzic's military orders so they look as if Karadzic obeyed Geneva Convention. ICTY should be very careful when presented with this kind of tainted evidence and "expert" testimonies, because there is more than likely possibility that Karadzic's camp has been involved in forging military orders to defend Karadzic from charges of genocide. Apart from evidence forgery, similar self-proclaimed "terrorism experts" were responsible for spreading flawed "intelligence" information to the CIA about non-existent Iraqi "weapons of mass destructions" and the alleged ties of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein with Al Qaeda, which led to bloody war and thousands of dead civilians. These kinds of people are selling what so many in the west are prepared to buy: fear, prejudice, and Srebrenica genocide denial.

At the end of this page, you will also find our short response to Mr Trifunovic concerning his claims that there was no decision on genocide in Srebrenica. Please feel free to add your name and post this letter to other websites, blogs, or/and sign it and send it to relevant human rights organization and media:To: European Police Congress Organizers

Dear Sirs:

We would ask you to confirm that Darko Trifunovic will not be welcome to participate in this 11th European Police Congress. Further, we ask for you to confirm that his agenda of hate, revisionism and denial of genocide will be excluded from the current and future European Police Congress.

The statement on your website that Mr. Trifunovic has withdrawn due to threats to his person is unacceptable in that such still implies that his hateful agenda and genocide denial might be welcome in the future at your Congress. His hollow claim of "fear of violence" could also gain credence from posting on your website. We have and will not instigate or support any violence directed at any person, nor should you allow Mr. Trifunovic to use your website to give credibility to his slanderous claims that the campaign directed at his teachings and promotion is promulgated by "White Al-Qaeda." You should note that many who have written and urged that Darko Trifunovic and his agenda be banned, in fact are not even "Muslims." They include Croat Catholics, Montenegran Orthodox, Dutch lawyers, Jewish writers, American business persons and others including Serbs. Any claim that Trifunovic is confronted by Islamic extremists is flawed from the outset. He is an offense to all. Our efforts are democratic, certainly peaceful and consistent with the evidence, justice and the rule of law.

"Identity fraud" or, more specifically, procuring Bosnian & Herzegovinian documents is also on Mr. Darko Trifunovic's resume. He had procured Bosnian/Herzegovinian travel documents and traveled through many European states with such until his fraud was uncovered and the BiH authorities took away his passport.

The crimes that Mr. Trifunovic, and others, deny and/or rationalize have been so ruled by international and national judicial authorities, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Court of Justice. Prosecution of offenders has been executed in international and national criminal proceedings. It is not optional whether you or we accept the evidence and fact of such genocide in Srebrenica or other grave violations of international humanitarian law in Bosnia & Herzegovina by Serbian forces. As one of the more prominent forums of the Euro-Atlantic law enforcement and judicial community, you have an obligation to confront such crimes and those who deny them or promote hate. Any other response demands that we reconsider your mission objectives, as insensitive and selective.

Mr. Darko Trifunovic is also engaged in hate promotion directed against the Bosniak ethnic group as well as those who may be identified as Muslims by birth or faith. His Islamophobia is inciting hate and misinformation, but here with the particular dangerous motive of justifying old crimes/genocides and potentially promoting new ones by ultra nationalists in Bosnia & Herzegovina from within Serbian extremist ranks and others.

In the hope of promoting shared values, a common future and the rule of law, we ask that you further promote within national and multilateral jurisdictions such enforcement of current laws or adoption of new laws that would sanction denying the genocide and crimes judicially ruled with respect to Srebrenica and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Promoting hate by religion or ethnicity should already be incorporated in criminal codes, but also deserves greater vigilance in enforcement without exception.

We await your response with confidence in shared values and the rule of law.

A letter to Mr Darko TrifunovicSubject: There WAS Decision on GenocideFrom: Daniel Zeljkovic

Mr Trifunovic, recently you appeared on a Bosnian NTV Hayat Talk Show via satellite from Serbia. Vividly angry, disturbed, and constantly interrupting guest participant and TV Host, you have used your old line of arguments, quote:

If you say that someone killed 8,000 people in Srebrenica, I want to know who killed them? If 8,000 people died in Srebrenica... If 8,000 died, where are those people?..... In some cases court handed down decision that some people helped commit genocide, but there was no decision on genocide.

You were probably referring to the case of Vidoje Blagojevic whose complicity in genocide sentence was cut on appeal? You should be aware that even in his appeal judgment, the International Criminal Tribunal re-affirmed that Genocide in Srebrenica was committed, quote:

The Trial Chamber finds that the facts... the crimes of genocide, extermination, murder, persecutions through murder, cruel and inhumane treatment, terrorizing the civilian population and forcible transfer, and inhumane acts (forcible transfer) were committed in July 1995 following the fall of the Srebrenica enclave. (source: ICTY)

Furthermore, Srebrenica genocide has been re-affirmed by the International Criminal Tribunal in both - trial and appeal - judgments issued against Radislav Krstic, as well as by the International Court of Justice in a case of Bosnia vs Serbia.

You also pointed out that 3,200 Serbs died in Srebrenica, which is not true. Let me quote the International Criminal Tribunal, and I will even provide you a source:

For the whole region, i.e the municipalities of Srebrenica, Bratunac, Vlasenica and Skelani, the Serb authorities claimed previously that about 1400 people were killed due to attacks committed by the BH Army forces for the period of May 1992 to March 1995, when Srebrenica was under the control of Naser Oric. Now the figure has become 3,500 Serbs killed. This figure may have been inflated... these figures just does not reflect the reality. (source: ICTY)

Mr Trifunovic, it's time for you to apologize publicly for your Srebrenica genocide denial and manipulations - not to us, but to the 8,000 + victims of Srebrenica genocide and their families.

SPECIAL THANK YOU:

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Srebrenica Genocide is not a matter of anybody's opinion; it's a judicial fact recognized first by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and subsequently by the International Court of Justice.